Tire flap



March 15, 1927.

F. v. MEDIYNSKII TIRE FL'AP Filed Aug. 11, 1925 W n 5 n G Y Patented M fia- 1927.

PATENT OFFJCE.

UNITED STATE..S

' FRED V. MEDYLNSKI, OF 'MEDFORD, OREGON.

TIRE .FLAP.

Applicationfl led August-'11, 1926. Serial No. 128,685.

This invention relates to an improved tire flap and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character which will prevent the inner tube of a tire from squeezcordingly wedging the beads against the side flanges of the rim to maintain tight joints between the beads and said flanges as well as tight joints between the side edges of the flap and said beads.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a flap well adapted for general use and which maybe readilyapplied and as easily removed. I i Other objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing will appear during the course of'the following description.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view showing my improved flap applied and illustrating the shape of the flap before the inner tube is inflated. o Figure 2 is.a view similar to Figure 1,

showing the shape of the flap after the in- -ner tube is inflated.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flap.

Incarrying the invention into effect, I employ an annular band 10. Thisband is formed of rubber or a suitable composition thereof and may, if desired, be reinforced by appropriately located fabric reinforcing StllPS vulcanized in the band. i In any event, however, tlfe band-is elastic so thatv the band may not only stretch lineally but may also stretch transversely. The band is preferably endless, although, if desired, the band may .be split, and is also pf'eferably molded so that the natural shape -of the band will be definitely-pre-formed.

As best brought out in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the band is provided with a flat inner f'acell and a concave outer face 12 while at its side edges, the band is provided with concave faces 13, and formed on the band to overhang the side edges thereof are lateral divergent wings 14 which are provided with feathered edges, the concave side faces of the band merging with the concave outer face 12 to define said edges.

Formed in the body of the band midway between the side edges thereof is an annular tubular spreader having an inner convex portion '15 extending below the inner fiat face 11 of the band,and an oppositely disposed outer convex portion 16 extending above the outer concave face 12- of the band,

the portions 15 and 16 of the spreader connecting the side portions of the body of the band and being much thinner than the body and corres ondingly'more flexible. Formed in the ban .is an opening 17 to accommodate the usual valve of an inner tube.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, I have shown the device in position within a tire before inflation thereof. The tire casing is indicated' at 18, .the beadsof the casingvat 19, and the usual inner tube at 20, while a wheel rim is conventionally shown at 21, the rim being provided with the usual side flanges 22. As will be observed, the flap is arranged to surround the rim- 21 between the casing beads 19 and is, in turn, surrounded by the inner tube 20, it being noted that the side faces 13 of the band are shaped to conform to the contour of the confronting inner faces of the beads 19. In Figure 2, I have shown the shape assumed by the flap after the inner tube hasbeen inflated. As will be observcd,,the flap is pressed between the beads 19 of the tire casing to seat flat at its inner face against the rim while the wings 14- are tightly pressed against the confronting faces of the beads to form closed, smooth joints between the feathered edges of the wings and the side walls of the casing. Thus, the inner tube cannot bulge between the flap and the side walls of the casing to cause pinching of the'inner tube or chafing thereofi' Furthermore, attention is particularlydirected to the fact that when the innerftubeis inflated, the lower convex portion 15 of the spreader of the flap isv flattenedagainst the rim'while the upper. cone vex portion 16 of said spreader is flattened by the'inner tube. The spreader is thus elongated. transversely with the result that the side portions of the body of thefla'p are wedged apart against the beads 19 ofthe tirecasing for tightly binding said beads between the. flap and the side flanges 22 of.

the'rim. Closed joints will thus be maintained between the beads of the casing and i the rim while, at the same time, said heads will be anchored to the rim and firmly held in fixed position thereon.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim 1s:

1. A tire flap including an annular band having a body formed 'with side portions and provided with a laterally extensible,

the thickness of said side portions respec-v tively. I

3. A tire flap including an annular band having, a body formed with side portions joined by a I laterally extensible tubular spreader.

4;. A tire flap including an annular band ing the side portions of the body apart.

5.. A tire flap including an annular band having side portions provided with concave side edges, flat inner faces and concave outer faces, the said side portions having upwardly and laterally divergent wines and being joined by an intermediate laterally extensible tubularspreacler having an inner convex port-ion extending-below the fiat inner faces of the side portions and an outer convex portion extending above the outer concave faces of the'side portions.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

FRED V. MEDYNSKI. [L.s.] 

